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Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.29

Passage 29

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「有yǒu為wéi者zhě，辟pì若ruò掘jué井jǐng。掘jué井jǐng九jiǔ軔rèn而ér不bù及jí泉quán，猶yóu為wéi棄qì井jǐng也yě。」

Mencius said, 'A man with definite aims to be accomplished may be compared to one digging a well. To dig the well to a depth of seventy-two cubits, and stop without reaching the spring, is after all throwing away the well.'

First-principles reading

Begin with the words and context, expose the premise beneath the argument, then test the conditions and limits of the principle.